Portland's independent, alternative weekly news source

A section of the J.C. Boyle Dam with water flowing.

Unnatural conflict in Klamath Basin

Conflicting interests in ongoing Klamath Basin water crisis force difficult choices

February 1, 2023

Photo of snowy Downtown Portland skyline with icy bridge hand rail in foreground

Available resources during Portland area's dangerous cold snap

Temperatures will be especially dangerous beginning Wednesday night, when temperatures are predicted to drop to 17 degrees before wind chill, through Friday morning, when temperatures are expected to reach as high as 30 degrees

Street Roots Staff

December 21, 2022

Dams, drought and survival in the Klamath Basin

A major river restoration project is likely forthcoming, but fish and tribes in the basin face ongoing water and climate troubles

Melanie Henshaw

November 2, 2022

Cyclists bike down the street adjacent to an outdoor dining area while people are eating and drinking. The dining area has a rope separating it from the road and some of the tables have umbrellas.

Opinion | As Healthy Businesses permit program enters phase two, business owners envision a new Portland

Moving Forward | What the second phase of Healthy Businesses permit program will look like

Henry Latourette Miller

August 24, 2022

A person leans over and kisses her dog's head as the dog looks up at her. They are both sitting on a floor on a mat.

The real danger — and available resources — during Portland’s current heat wave

Various agencies opened 24-hour cooling centers throughout the city, in addition to the numerous daytime cooling and misting centers the city and local nonprofits set up in response to the heat.

K. Rambo Kanani Cortez

July 27, 2022

A highway is closed off with two signs. One sign says, “wildfire” and the other says “road closed.” The air is thick with smoke and two workers stand next to the trucks blocking off the road.

Threats of heat waves, wildfires and smoke loom over Oregon’s summer

After a wet spring, Portland is drought-free, but that’s not the case for the rest of the state

Melanie Henshaw

June 29, 2022

In the foreground is a thermometer showing temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a bright sun shining in the background.

Heat Week is coming to Portland

One year removed from the deadly 'heat dome,' Portlanders will gather to mourn those who died — and call for better outcomes in the future

Christine Menges

June 24, 2022

A photo of a beach on the Oregon coast. The sun is high in the sky and the sand is in the foreground with the ocean in the background.

DEQ excludes much of Oregon’s marine waters from protected waterway listings

Scientists urge regulators to address marine health, sound alarm about acidification

Piper McDaniel

February 17, 2022

The Jack Fire burned more than 23,000 acres near Glide in July, leaving scorched trees and ground vegetation in its destructive path on both sides of the North Umpqua River.

Forest management not so clear cut

Conservationists and scientists say ‘clearing fuel’ may be helping clear the way for historically destructive fires

Jake Thomas

August 17, 2021

Oregon pushes to limit diesel emissions, but currently lacks infrastructure

Gov. Kate Brown called for reduction of diesel emissions in an ambitious climate order, but experts and advocates remain skeptical the state has the infrastructure to get it done

Jake Thomas

August 11, 2021